Watch and Learn...

As the new year kicks in, so does the Grand Slam schedule. That gives rise to staying up all hours, wearing out the DVR, and catching as much of 2016's first slam as possible- brought to us by our friends from Oz. I find it funny they call it "The Happy Slam", as if the others are somehow less fun and joyful. It's the only one I've not attended, so I can only speak from TV experience, which certainly doesn't count. However, I'm pretty confident they're all pretty "happy"!

But like them all, The Australian Open brings lots of opportunities to watch great tennis, and check in on your favorites, as well as discover some new phenoms. Besides the attraction of watching athletic competition, battling personalities, and tennis virtuosity, is there more to be gained for you, the developing player, from watching this ( and the other) slams? I think there is, but it might be some things you don't always notice. Let's take a deeper look.

Though I find it unlikely that watching Raonic hit a 145 mph serve will speed yours up too much, or that seeing Fed move like a gazelle will make you more agile, there is much to learn from seeing how the best players in the world compete. Here are a few observations I recommend:

Feet- Take a few points, don't follow the ball, but just watch one player's feet. I would recommend Federer or Ferrer or the new young woman from Great Britain named Johanna Konta. Take note of when and how they split step. When their feet are off the ground, they are reading direction and initiating movement in that direction before their feet even land back on the ground. Notice how many adjusting steps they take between their immaculately timed split steps and the time when they plant, with a relatively wide base, to strike the ball. Typically, it's more than 6-7 steps. I would venture the average amateur, if they split step on time,typically take less than 3 adjusting steps.

Preparedness- Take a look at Djokovic, or Azarenka, or Serena as they dig in to receive serve. They take their time, and position every fiber and sinew of their body in that crouch to prepare for that moment of impact when they must read and react with explosive response time. Is there ever a point where they are not 100% engaged and ready to do battle? Are they ever less prepared for the first point of the game vs. break point?

Deliberate - see how every player manages pace and rhythm as they prepare to start each point, whether serving or receiving. Did you see anyone rushing between points, or between first and second serves? Or not taking their full 90 seconds on EVERY changeover? Notice how they go to their towel after every point, and use the available time to gather their thoughts, control their breathing, and strategize for the next point. Through the use of

Rituals and routines- they are treating every point the same; at 0-0, or 4-5 ad out.

You will discover specific routines as they prepare to serve, as they prepare to receive, as they move to the bench for changeover, and while they are seated on the bench. Did you ever notice Sharapova won't step on any lines as she moves to and from the bench on crossovers? We've all seen Rafa pick at his shorts, but have you ever noticed what he does with his water bottles? Did you see the odd way that Konta bounces the ball pre-serve? All efforts at "sameness"- to ground the player, to treat every point the same, and to bring focus.

Emotional management-how many outbursts do you see or hear? There are so few that when they happen they really stand out. How about POSITIVE , physical responses after the point (fist pumps, thigh slaps, "come on's !", running and jumping, raising arms to the crowd, etc) ? I think of all the slow motion videos of a player's mouth wide open in a roar of satisfaction that for at least the point that just ended, they have accomplished exactly what they wanted. This is a lot more evident than reactions of despair or disappointment.

So, enjoy the sleep deprivation and schedule crunching of watching the "The Happy Slam" from our friends Down Under. Have a look at some of these things that make our superstars better.

And let those observations begin to make YOU better, too !